5 Ways to Boost Productivity at PACK EXPO East

Welcome to PACK EXPO East, the April 16-18 event showcasing the latest packaging innovations at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Apr 16th, 2018

More than 6,000 attendees are expected to attend this biennial event produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Spanning almost 100,000 net-sq-ft, the show will feature nearly 400 exhibitors demonstrating innovations in food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical device, cosmetics and personal care, industrial and household chemical, and other packaged goods industries.

Here are five tips to get the most out of the event:

+ Download the PACK EXPO East Mobile App for exhibitor listings, products and sessions, and create your own show plan and itinerary.

+ Check out the Innovation Stage sessions covering topics such as metal detection or X-ray inspection, reusable transport packaging systems, OPC-UA collaboration, completing a robotic line, end-to-end traceability solutions, and more.

+ Experience the PACK EXPO Drone Demo—Packaging for the Last Mile, demonstrating a new frontier in supply chain logistics.

+ Join the Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network and attend its first regional meeting on April 17 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

+ Discover the PACK EXPO East partner associations that are advancing industry alliances at the event.

Read our show preview here.

PMMI

Horizon’s Tillson says the versatile Criterion CL-240 cartoner was enhanced with safety features, which allow its blind employees to successfully operate the machinery.

Custom Cartoner Helps Employ the Blind

As a non-profit with a mission to create jobs, automation can be a tricky proposition. But with a custom machine optimized to be easily used by legally blind operators, Horizon Industries struck a positive balance between labor and automation.

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When Will AI be Common in Manufacturing?

Companies want to rely less on skilled labor and more on AI and machine intelligence, but currently only 1% of all manufacturers are utilizing this technology in their operations.

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Industry Snapshot: Organic and Natural Products

The natural and organic industry is expected to grow 9.5% in 2020, to $252 billion. Supplements and plant-based proteins are two fast-growing categories.

The combination of Flexi-Cap and Booklet-Label blinds the vial and offers ample space for product information in several languages.

CSL Behring Uses Specialty Label System to Blind Vials for Clinical Trials

There are visible differences between the candidate and the placebo in this international Phase III trial. The blinding system combines a cap system that completely covers the vial with a booklet label for multilingual product information.

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Robotics Solutions Future Looks Bright

The demand for cobots will continue to grow, and robotics will expand outside of end-of-line applications, according to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence.

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Live from PDA/FDA: FDA Considers Incentivizing Quality Management Maturity (QMM)

The Agency is soliciting feedback from manufacturers on assessing and rewarding QMM through Oct. 2020. Reduced audit frequency may one day be an incentive for high performers.

New web-based PMMI Media Group event will bring the packaging and processing industry together, virtually.

Register Now for First of Its Kind PACK EXPO Connects

The new web-based PMMI Media Group event will bring the packaging and processing industry together, virtually Nov. 9-13.

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Pharma Packaging Innovations

New webinar covers several unique packaging innovations to overcome challenges such as child resistance/senior friendly, on-the-go convenience, anti-counterfeiting and improved packaging functionality.

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IIoT Blind Spots: Where are They and Do You Have Them?

A crucial component of automation advancement, yet one that is lacking at most manufacturers, is the deployment of IIoT connectivity across an entire enterprise, including key areas such as receiving, warehousing, and shipping.

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Poseidon: Call to Participate in Pre-Commercial Ocean Freight Trials

COVID-19 immunization will need a staggering collaborative effort in intercontinental transportation. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are invited to register their interest in participating in the final Poseidon trials.

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Moving Automation Up the Line

According to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence, OEMs and suppliers should assist manufacturers to identify new automation projects that lie outside the traditional end-of-line packaging and palletizing.

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Variable Barcodes to Boost COVID-19 Test Kit Experience

Scannable point of care tests were designed to increase test accuracy, collect data, and take the guesswork out of reading results.

U.K. Corner-Shop Favorite Rejuvenated

Contemporary new graphics that focus on the unique taste of milk-based nutrition brand Nurishment along with a new bottle format are designed to appeal to larger consumer base.

“Another key [UDI] benefit, because we're calling that product by the same name across the healthcare supply chain… rich and robust data that we can access around supply consumption and utilization rates. One of the buzz terms we've heard during the COVID-19 crisis was what's my burn rate? How fast am I going through gowns, masks, gloves?” – Mike Schiller, Senior Director at AHRMM

Quotables and By the Numbers: Aug. 2020

Climate, packaging, medical device security, and more.

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The Pandemic is Shaping the Future Supply Chain

Some of the greatest innovations happen during times of disruption.

Early indications reveal industrywide interest on new web-based event.

Early Industry Enthusiasm Builds for PACK EXPO Connects

The packaging industry appears poised to embrace newly launched wed-based event.

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Small Batch Skin- and Haircare Line Offers Glass Packaging on a Budget

After making the switch from a career in occupational therapy, a former hand specialist offers a variety of personal care products with cruelty-free, natural ingredients in recyclable packaging.

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Compressed Air Measurement Helps Reduce Energy Use

Installing Festo’s E2M energy efficiency modules helped medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers tackle their environmental footprint, not only saving money but using the data to provide predictive maintenance as well.

In the men's skincare market, the demand for cleanser, face wash, and sunscreen products is outpacing that of shave care essentials, according to a new report from Grand View Research, Inc.

Packaging Will Help Drive Men’s Skincare Product Market

Premium products with organic and natural ingredients are the latest trend, resulting in the growing popularity of more sustainably sourced packaging materials.

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Five Takeaways on Automation Growth Today

A new report by PMMI Business Intelligence shows that OEMs and suppliers who meet the needs of the changing times will thrive along with the CPGs of the future.

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Survey Reveals Biopharma Companies’ Focus on Sustainability in Cold Chain Partnerships

Results note that sustainability is moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have, putting sustainable temperature-controlled shippers in high demand.

Susosu mineral water infused with molecular hydrogen is packaged in a 300-mL multilayer aluminum pouch with gussets.

Hydrogen Water Potency Preserved with Aluminum Pouch

Unique gusseted aluminum stand-up pouch format keeps hydrogen atoms inside, preserving the antioxidant, energy-boosting, and anti-inflammation properties of the water.

Corning developed Valor Glass for vials designed to be more resistant to damage than conventional glass.

Study: Automatic Inspection for Lyophilized Drug Products in Valor Vials

Companies partnered to test whether the new vial material would present obstacles to proper inspection for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

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HCP Editors Talk: COVID-19 and Manufacturing

In this episode, we discuss concerns about cybersecurity, disaster prep, and using automation to work toward manufacturing a vaccine.

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ISTA Pharma Committee Virtual Roundtable Discussions: Aug. 11 and 25

As a follow up to the open meeting held in June, the ISTA Pharma Committee will host two roundtable discussions in August to discuss in-depth the top two topics of interest from the industry survey.

Pandemic Cancels In-Person PACK EXPO International

PMMI Media Group launches new live, web-based event: PACK EXPO Connects 2020.

FDA Guidance: Expiration Dating of Unit-Dose Repackaged Solid Oral Dosage Form Drug Products

A new 4-page guidance from FDA comes on the heels of an increase in repackaging drugs for administration as a single dose.

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Hand Sanitizer Spike Here to Stay

U.K. co-packers’ association reports that inquiries for personal care items rocketed by more than 500% shortly after the coronavirus lockdown was implemented.

Monique Sprueill of Johnson & Johnson addresses supply chain management for ATMPs.

Innovative Therapies Demand Data and Risk Management in Supply Chain

Gene and cell therapies delivered to patients struggling for their lives further complicate an already complicated supply chain. Data and analytics throughout the process are essential to maintaining the integrity needed.

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2020 Healthcare Package Design Gallery

Months and years go into designing an over-the-counter package to ensure the consumer can safely use it, often in mere seconds.

The Cobot Expo will take place online July 28-30.

Cobot Deployment Shines in COVID-19 Pandemic

Leading up to its virtual Cobot Expo this week, Universal Robots highlighted several cases where small companies have been using collaborative automation to keep production going amid the crisis.

The future of manufacturing can't be imagined in a present-forward mindset. Innovation comes from the future-back.

Reverse Engineering the Organization

A new book reveals how “future-back” thinking—defining what the company will look like decades from now and working backwards—can encourage innovative ideas that will create breakthrough growth.